Limitless is undoubtedly a fitting word to describe Julie Anne San Jose.

While it is a fact that she broke through show business by way of the now dime a dozen singing competition route, the grand winner of Popstar Kids in 2006 was never one to stop herself from exploring her artistic capabilities.

She went from singing on stage to rousing her inner dancer to become a complete performer. Not only that, she determinedly learned to play a host of musical instruments - including the piano, violin, drums, guitar and ukulele, among others - to assist her as she pursued her next found potential as a songwriter.

But as if creating and performing music is not challenging enough, the multi-platinum artist also ventured into acting, with her latest foray, the well-received romantic-comedy primetime series, 'Heartfelt Cafe.'

On the personal front, the 27-year-old neither allowed her busy showbiz schedule to get in the way of her life-long dream. In 2016, she finished college and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Communications Arts from Angelicum College.

Through all these achievements, it became clear that the singer-songwriter, dancer, actress and college graduate isn't one to simply take on a whim. For whatever goal she sets sight on, she also puts her mind, heart, soul and entire being to excel in it, truly making her limitless.

However, just like everyone else's, her momentum was shockingly interrupted when 2020's Covid-19 pandemic exploded around the world. The once limitless San Jose, like every other person, had to restrict every facet of her life for fear of contracting the dreaded disease.

But as she watched in amazement how humankind refuses defeat by the unseen enemy, San Jose experienced a breakthrough moment. She realized she need not wait for the pandemic to end to begin to be limitless anew.

And her latest endeavor, 'Limitless, A Musical Trilogy,' is a testament to her desire to break free from the shackles of the pandemic. To break free from her intrinsic nature to be limitless.

Produced by GMA Synergy, under the creative direction of Paolo Valenciano, 'Limitless' is poised to be an extraordinary musical journey where San Jose travels to the three island groups of the Philippines.

The first leg on September 17 will see San Jose exploring Mindanao. Against the picturesque sceneries of the southernmost Philippines, she immerses in the culture of the locals, imbibes their values and forges a connection with them. Joining her in this maiden episode are Asia's Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista and The Clash alumnus and proud Mindanaoan Jong Madaliday.

Meanwhile, the second and third legs will have San Jose traveling to Visayas and Luzon, respectively, with each episode assuming the phases of becoming limitless as titles. 'Breathe' for the first, then 'Heal' and 'Rise' to complete the trilogy.

As she reclaims her passion for going the distance in everything she does, The Sunday Times Magazine joins Julie Anne San Jose in celebrating the endless possibilities still ahead of her, despite the odds. Read on to find out why she deserves to be called Asia's Limitless Star 15 years into her successful career in show business.

How did GMA Synergy pitch the original concept of 'Limitless' to you?

When it was first presented to me, we still had no idea what to call it - is it a musical, a documentary or a concert? But I knew it would be different especially because there's traveling involved. That made me more excited.

I'm grateful to be chosen for this project because I've been wanting to go out there and reconnect with people. Before, I'd go out of town for work and events and would just fly back to Manila, back to reality.

For this project, although we had to shoot, of course, it felt like it just so happened we were there - the team and GMA Synergy Entertainment Group - to explore and even jam with the local.

We had so much fun that even though we were tired, at the end of the day, it felt it was worth it. It was like a fun tired, if you get me. It was so worth it to go there even though I think it's the farthest I've gone in my entire life. But if they ever invite us to come back, I will. It was just a wonderful experience.

How did it feel to be able to travel again in the middle of the pandemic?

This trip was one of a kind. Our team went to Mindanao for the first leg of this trilogy at lahat kami nakahinga. Traveling is something that we all miss, especially now that we are in the pandemic.

But it's not just about going to different places or different locations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, it's also about getting to know more about the people and their cultures. Our Philippine culture is very important at kailangan natin itong pahalagahan talaga.

Can you share the challenges of shooting a concert and documentary of sorts in different locations?

Of course, there's the set of restrictions and protocols. But fortunately, we were able to manage everything, and we're very grateful to the government of Mindanao. We felt safe and greatly accommodated. They arranged our itinerary which allowed us to be with the locals and see for ourselves the special places in Mindanao like the La Palmera Mountain Ridge.

The trailer showed parts where you became emotional - can you share what was going through your mind?

In the last part, you'll notice that I said something like, 'Ang tagal kong kinimkim.' I'm speaking for every single person kasi ang tagal tagal na nating pinagdadaanan tong pandemic na to at lahat tayo ay sobrang apektado in different aspects. So that, to me, meant lahat tayo ay gustong makawala and just be free from the pandemic and see the world.

For me, this is more than just another online show. It's actually beyond that. It has given us more reasons to live, and realizations that there is more to life than this pandemic.

I'm also excited because I will be sharing with you my musical journey - what songs have become special to me, how I started my career, why I write songs - as I showcase the hidden gems of the Philippines and how beautiful our country is.

In Limitless, I'm sharing a piece of my heart and I don't think I've ever been this vulnerable and open to people through a show. You always see me through my work or TV show but I feel like for the first time, you will see me as me in Limitless.

You said you saw some commonalities between yourself and our indigenous brothers and sisters. What could a 'star' have in common with locals who live simply in the provinces and up in the mountains?

First of all, I was a Filipino citizen first before I joined show business so I don't think and up in the difference, but when it comes to like, you know, I'm also human. And I have experiences that I don't share [in public]. This challenging pandemic became like a common denominator for everybody because we've all been struggling. One of those struggles is having real connections what with social distancing and other protocols that we have to observe.

What really made an impact to me was the connection we had with the locals in Mindanao. They would tell us how grateful they were that of all places we could have gone to, we went to theirs.

I also believe that's what we've been missing out - our culture. We're fortunate that we can actually experience it beyond our history books or outside our classroom lesson. We also did some activities with these locals and I must say, as someone who rarely hangs out with her friends because of work, this was a big deal for me. I never really have that time for myself so for me, that experience was a food for the soul, it's like a once in a lifetime experience.

How has Limitless changed your perspective?

I realized that there is more to life than this pandemic. I've come to the realization that what we're going through shouldn't hinder us from going after our dreams - it's really up to us if we want to move forward of if we just want to be stuck. And for me, it's important to have that optimistic mindset. Like, it's true our plans have changed because of the pandemic but it doesn't mean we can't try planning for them again when all of this is over. Right now, I'm just filled with gratitude and I try to always be in the present moment.

Do the episode titles of Limitless - 'Breathe,' 'Heal,' 'Rise' - resonate with you on a personal level?

I guess you could say it's the cycle of life. Sometimes you need to breathe and to heal so you can rise again. I think it's important to go through these phases for you to be a better person.

With Limitless putting your music front and center, have you decided to concentrate on singing again after dabbling into acting?

I really wanted to keep on creating music. Obviously, music is my first love. And so Limitless Trilogy is something very very personal to me. I want to make myself relatable to people by opening up and also by sharing my music. Usually, when I release an album or a single, that's it. But I wanted to show everyone my creative process, why I write my songs - it's really about reconnecting with people.

What makes you feel 'limitless'?

Whenever I discover new things about myself or kung ano pa yung mga capabilities ko. Every day is a learning experience for me and I always have hunger for learning and for honing the talents.

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'Limitless Part 2: Heal' is scheduled on November 20 and 'Limitless Part 3: Rise' on February 19, 2022. Tickets to each episode as well as 'Limitless, A Musical Trilogy' package are now available via www.GMANetwork.com/synergy.